Govt to strengthen JK police, reduce role of central agencies

NL Correspondent

SRINAGAR: With there is a debate in political circles over replacing of pellets in Kashmir, the modernizing of Jammu and Kashmir police is the top priority of the government so that they could handle the law and order problem in the state on their own without much dependency on the centre security forces.

The security forces in the state are facing a tough time to deal with the prevailing situation with around 70 people having been killed and over 6000 civilians, 2000 security personnel have been injured in the violent protests.

The increasing number of injured people including the security personnel during the clashes has put into focus whether the JK police was well-equipped and better trained to deal with the situation so that causalities would have been less in number. Now the government wants speedy implementation of the ‘Modernization of Police Forces' scheme and has constituted a state level empowered committee headed by the Chief Secretary with Administrative Secretary Planning and Development and Monitoring department, Administrative Secretary Home department. Director General of Police, J&K and Administrative Secretary Finance department as its members for its proper monitoring.

The objective of the scheme is to gradually reduce the dependence of the state governments on the army and the Central police forces to control internal security and law and order situations by equipping the state police forces adequately and strengthening their training infrastructure.

The scheme has been started in various states in India including in J&K for providing cops with secure police stations, training centers, police housing (residential), equipping the police stations with the required mobility, modern weaponry, communication equipment and forensic set-up. Sources said the Union Home Ministry has released a huge funds to the state for modernizing of JK police but there has not been much difference on the ground.

A senior police official said the ongoing crisis has forced the state police to adopt new techniques to deal with the situation. “The security forces will be well equipped with the modernization programme so that they deal with the situation in a better way without much human loss,” the official said.

Earlier, the Comptroller and Auditor General of India has also criticized J&K government for providing “poor infrastructure and lack of basic facilities for the state police force that needs it the most in the country”.